Brain immunolocalization of the sNPFR in worker subcastes from colonies without brood and comparisons with those with brood.

Abstract

<p>(A–H) Schematic of the location of cell clusters expressing the sNPFR in all subcastes, comparing colonies with and without brood. Areas in orange boxes enclose specific brain areas for comparison. Dashed white circles correspond to the expected location of immunoreactive cells in colonies with brood. A–D, G and H show the receptor signal in the posterior brain; E and F show the anterior brain view. In colonies without brood cluster c7 became undetectable both in minor (H, I) and medium workers (D, K); compare with C, G. Additionally, cluster c2 became undetectable in minors from these colonies (F, J). In the posterior view, cluster c9 also became undetectable in minors (H, and insets in M, N) and mediums (D, L, inset). Cluster c14 remained present in minor (O, P) and medium workers (Q, R), but cluster c15 became undetectable in these workers, and only observed in majors, however, composed by lower number of immunoreactive cells (S, T) in comparison to majors in colonies with brood. Cluster c12 also is undetectable in majors (B, and in S, lower right corner) when brood is absent.</p